The Tripods - vintage interview material

 

From Starburst #79 (click to enlarge)

 

 

 

 

 

From TV Zone Special #10 (click to enlarge)

 

 

 

 

From Epi-Log Special #6 (click to enlarge)

 

 

 

From Starburst #88 (click to enlarge)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Tripods boys on Blue Peter

Transcript from the interview with John Shackley, Jim Baker and Ceri Seel, transmitted on 17 September 1984:

Simon Groom- And here are Will, otherwise known as John Shackley, Henry, alias Jim Baker, and Beanpole, who in real life is Ceri Seel. Welcome to the programme.

all three boys - thank you.

Michael Sundin - And if Ceri looks familiar. You might have seen him as William Bagthorpe in the Bagthorpe Saga. Welcome to Blue Peter. Congratulations on getting leading parts. It's such an exciting series.

Simon Groom - Yeah, very well done. Did you know one another before the series, before Tripods?

JB - No, we met at the auditions, it took six months to films so, er, we, know each other pretty well now.

boys - Yeah, yeah.

JS - now and again, you know, don't we Ceri - oh sorry, Jim

Michael Sundin - just as well you got on having to hang around waiting with all those special effects.

JB - yeah that was quite tricky sometimes

JS - yeah, it was

Simon Groom - has any of you ever read the book that the TV series was adapted from?

CS - Well, I - a weird thing was, I read it about seven years ago, in the first year of my school. And as soon as I found out I had the audition I went straight to the library to get the book out and there is this illiterate little signature of mine from the first year when I was really young, yeah.

Simon Groom - and you went back in the sixth form -

CS - and it was the same book, yeah, the very same book.

Simon Groom - how a - that's an extraordinary coincidence!

JS - It is!

CS - And even then I thought 'I fancy this Beanpole guy' so

[laughs]

CS - this is an omen!

Simon Groom - you've certainly got that height for it, I think you're even taller than I am, how tall are you?

CS - six foot three

Simon Groom - perfect for the part!

CS - but I slouch

[laughs]

Simon Groom - Now Jim, what was it like acting with the Tripods?

JB - er, with these things?

Simon Groom - yes

JB - It was quite difficult, they had to be moved around, and we had to wait for them to be moved around, so it wasn't just us sort of pretending to look at the Tripods, on most of the occasions they were there. So we had to wait for them.

Michael Sundin - It must have been hard trying to produce a good performance while you're being hoisted through the treetops by a Tripod's claw.

JB - John would know about that.

JS - Yeah well, I actually did go up on a tripod's claw, on it, basically you just need to be very fit, to be able to do it, because you have to wear harness and things. And you need a lot of agility as well, just to manouevre yourself around.

Michael Sundin - that's good. I noticed, Ceri, you're wearing glasses. And in the first series we know there's no mechanical gadgets. So how did you get by with having glasses on?

CS - Well the thing is, Beanpole -

Simon Groom - Get out of that!

CS - Beanpole is a mega genius you see.

Simon Groom - Ah.

CS - So I got out of it.

Simon Groom - Ahhhh...

JS - Joe Ninety!

JB - haha!

CS - He invents his own glasses you see, out of old different bits of bottle tops and things like that. I don't know actually how he does it.

JB - Sticky back plastic.

CS - Sticky back plastic, yeah.

Michael Sundin - Could you see out of them?

CS - And erm but later on, because I couldn't see through them, you're right, I got a - they got another proper pair - we wrote it into the script that I found a pair, so I could see.

Michael Sundin - that's very handy.

CS - yeah, it was good

Simon Groom - very handy.

Michael Sundin - Apart from, erm, fighting with the Tripods, did you do any hand to hand fighting?

JS - oh yeah, there was, there was one scene later on in the episodes where me and Henry have a fight! And we arranged it with the stunt arranger and erm, and it was very funny cause the stunt arranger took me to one side and said 'ok, we're going to go for a take now, and when we do it, I want you to really' - cos we, cos we were boys, we had to do like boy's fighting, slap on the face and things. 'I want you to really slap Jim on the face, really - really -'

Simon Groom  - for real.

JS - yeah, throw it, and that'll make him go, and you can bounce off him you know, so I thought yeah great! Then he took Jim to one side and he said 'ok, when you fake the slap, I want you to really punch him in the gut, get it... so I go yeah, ok, action! and I go 'shut up, Henry' [raises hand] bang! And he goes pumf! and we sort of like, started fighting ... and biff and all those

Simon Groom - so true

CS - it looked real...

JS - It was real, what do you mean! It was real!

Simon Groom - you didn't get too carried away and black one another's eyes then?

CS - I was there to stop that...

JB - nah...

JS - bit too mad...

CS - macho man here.

JB - I felt the adrenalin pumping round my body really quickly after that...

JS - yeah

JB - because of that. It was real.

Simon Groom - so the stuntman was absolutely right.

JS - oh yeah well, after we did it we were like that, you know.

Michael Sundin - it's a good way of working isn't it?

Boys - yes, yeah

Michael Sundin - at least you get live action.

JS - yeah it's more -

CS - it was so he enjoyed it - oh, you told him to hit me!

JS - you so-and-so!

Simon Groom - it's fascinating to hear all the tricks that went on behind the scenes, and thank you very much for taking time off your very busy rehearsal schedule.

Boys - yes

CS - that's alright.

Simon Groom - and for coming along to talk to us, and we wish you the very best of luck with series two.

JB - thanks

JS- yeah, ta

And we'll end with a final glimpse of the Tripods in action. One of the most terrifying things about them is that they loom up when they're least expected, which Will discovers when he takes a moonlight ride on horseback...

 

IB - John Shackley had his hair short as it was around the time they were rehearsing for series 2. It isn't included on the DVD boxset but it is available on Youtube. Shall we take a peak at it?

 

JL - Yes, lets!

 

JL - God this is awkward. The three lads really don't like each other that much do they? John Shackley is obsessed with his boot. And what's going on with Michael Sundin on the left. His voice is weird, he sounds stoned. And he tries desperately to keep the cat on its cushion at the beginning but the cat is having none of it. I don't blame it.

 

IB - The questions are banal. The segment only lasts two minutes, so we don't see much of what the actors were like in real life. As in the screenplay though, it's Beanpole actor Ceri Seel who comes off as the most warm and charming, it must have filtered into his performance.

 

JL - Jim Baker looks very self-satisfied. I bet he and that Simon Groom snorted all the good stuff in the Television Centre toilets and that's why Will is so pissed off. Can we get back to the actual story now?

 

It’s interesting that Michael Sundin, the blond presenter who interviewed the boys alongside long-serving stalwart Simon Groom, was sacked from Blue Peter because of his inability to engage the audience (however there was quite a lot of evidence at the time it was actually because of his sexuality, which was always denied by the BBC). Sadly Michael died aged just 28 from an AIDS-related illness.

The Tripods (1984) Episode 13

After having destroyed a Tripod, the teenagers are pursued by other Tripods - not just the regular silver variety, but special red combat versions that carry heavy laser weapons. With the death of their fellow Tripod, they are determined to find the boys, and even at night the area is bombarded by laser fire.

 

IB - More night shoot work. The lasers are really effective.

 

JL - Scream! Have they been squashed? This is tense!

 

IB - Henry's a proper man, he trips but he doesn't want a fuss.

 

Surviving the evening, they awaken in the morning with the machines gone, and plan to move on to the mountains. But they suddenly find themselves surrounded and within reach of the White Mountains they are captured by Black Guards who begin a brutal interrogation to find out who the boys are and why they are near the mountains.

 

JL - Suddenly Simon LeBon jumps up from nowhere. Not really.

 

IB - They say the Freemen are a fable. And now Black Guards are interrogating the boys. Will's acting is impressive for once: 'I won't be capped!'

 

JL - I hate the 'looking into camera as they tell their story' technique employed here. Henry and eye contact is wrong.

 

The Guards bribe and blackmail the boys with what they want the most or what they fear the most. They tell Will he can be reunited with Eloise, Henry will become a Black Guard, and Beanpole will be purposely made a Vagrant; his brain destroyed.

IB - The drama is excellent. When they accuse Henry of being a coward and he shouts at them that he killed a Tripod and he'd do it again. Beanpole is supreme, Ceri Seel nails this scene with beautiful moral indignation yet still remains dignified and stoic: 'filth like you!?' Why wasn't he cast as Doctor Who?

 

JL - The guards threaten Will with punishing the families at the Chateau and Vineyard for harbouring them. Will whines: 'don't you understand, they just liked me!' Now that isn't very believable to be honest.

 

Will Henry and Beanpole wonder if they have made a great mistake trying to find the Free Men, but do not crack. It is revealed that they have passed the questioning and the Black Guards are actually Free Men, who had to test the boys as they have been infiltrated by mind conditioned slaves of the Tripods before trying to flush them from hiding.

 

JL - It's obvious it's a sham and there's going to be a twist and these Black Guards are the Freemen. Beanpole works it out.

 

IB - And of course, they are! The Head Interrogator is Scarlioni's Guard from City of Death. He's good isn't he? Even though it's clear he's a goodie really.

 

 

JL - Ozymandias is alive! Second obvious twist.

 

IB - But it's all good fun. Look upon my works and rejoice! That's a nice bit of rephrasing.

JL - Fucking hell, it's yet another chemin de ferre. Was this scripted by a Thomas the Tank Engine fanatic?

 

IB - Will, Henry and Beanpole finally look happy, as if the actors are finally getting on now the end is in sight and they don't have to stand each other's company much longer.
 

JL - The old dude Julius is their ruler. Is his surname Caesar? Why couldn't he have been called Keith?

 

IB - There's girls there! I thought they might have all died out or something.

 

JL - And so it's a minute to go and they're sat talking next to a model of the Tripod City. The Freemen's plan is to make the youngsters compete to an Olympic standard so they can be chosen to infiltrate the City of Gold. What? Will, Henry and Beanpole volunteer. The end. Is that it? Is there an episode 14 with excitement in it?

 

IB - No but there is a Series 2 that picks right up where this just ended. Except Will has a new haircut and is training to be a boxer.

 

JL - Ooh, count me in then!

 

 

 

The Tripods (1984) Episode 12

 

The boys are on trial even though it is clearly understood that they will be capped regardless of the verdict. Their situation appears to have been made worse when Daniel arrives, and the council releases the teenagers to the Black Guard, who is returning back to central headquarters, where it is again understood they will be capped.

 

JL - Christ, we're five minutes in and it's been pure padding.

 

JL - Pig flaps hat lady is stern. She can drop the attitude, she hasn't even got a speaking part.

 

 

 

 

JL - Daniel turns up, just to be a sly little bitch.

 

IB - This is so boring. Will gives a very badly acted speech that the French Guy repeats in his own language. Word for word.

 

IB - Perhaps the bad acting is intentional, and is therefore good?

 

JL - Silence! I hate existentialism.
 

IB - 'You are subversives!'

 

JL - Always!
 

IB - Prince Harry's in the crowd. The town architecture is great. I wonder where it was filmed.

 

JL - Try Tripod-pedia.

 

Placed in a cage on the back of a horse-driven cart they manage to overpower Daniel and on the way back to Black Guard headquarters, and leave for their real destination: The White Mountains.

 

IB - Beanpole tried his best to be nicey-nicey in French: 'nous sommes amis, oui?'

JL - Er, no. Daniel's staying quiet.

 

IB - That's brutal! They garrotte Daniel against the bars of their cage while the music swells to emphasise.

 

JL - Bon D'accord, mon ami! It's ok, they got his key so they didn't have to go all the way and behead him. It is a kid's show.

 

IB - Nothing is ever made of whether the Vichot family suffered for helping the runaways when the Black Guard boyfriend got rescued.

 

JL - If he did. He could still be there, all emaciated in that cart. Just good looking bones.

 

IB - Henry is unaware he's started a fire in a room full of gasoline.

 

JL - It's like those cartoons with 'acme' stamped on the side of a rocket. Labelled for the viewer. They certainly manage to distract the Tripod with a huge explosion. What's going on all of a sudden? There's a plot, and things happening, and not a turban in sight.

 

 

 

With only two days left before they can reach the Resistance hideaway, they begin to doubt if they will ever make it, or if there really is a group of Free Men waiting for them. Travelling through the rubble of an old village, they see a mine car and get in it for a ride downhill through a trench, not seeing what is at the end of the line: a Tripod waiting menacingly that does not witness their approach.

 

JL - Henry's being a Debbie Downer. He's come all this way and only now does he doubt the Freemen even exist. Clever.

 

JL - Christ, not another chemin de ferre.

 

IB - How the hell did they not see that Tripod standing there from miles away?

 

JL - 'Like a fat man a Tripod cannot see his feet' Talking of fat, there's only one man for the job then!

 

The boys wait to see if the machine will move, but it never does and with them now freezing in the cold weather they put together a plan. One of the Tripod's feet is hanging precariously over soft rock near the trench, and by setting off below the Tripods foot the grenades they picked up in Paris they can cause it to fall over. The plan works, and after the machine topples a glowing green door opens, so Henry throws their last grenade inside, causing a green slime to ooze out.

 

IB - Henry builds on his Superman pose in the rail cart and actually becomes a super hero. This sequence is brilliant. Notice how awesome the trio are compared to when they first met.

 

IB - And so we see the metal eggs from earlier in use. A green liquid oozes out of the open hatch. Bits of Master? Henry says he saw a face.

 

JL - Considering series two, he must have been hallucinating.

 

IB - 'They carry people!'

 

JL - Yeah, weird people made out of green goo.

 

IB - 'you saved us, Henry!' Yes, 'I suppose I did' (smile) Bless!

 

On the run again they finally see the White Mountain - just before a whole legion of Tripods head in their direction.
 

IB - The White Mountain! Hooray! Success! Shaking of hands! It's all jolly decent.

 

JL - And then - oh noes! Loads of Tripods! Red ones with laser cannons! Wicked! This is the most action intensive episode so far.

 

IB - Is the red Tripod the equivalent of a Special Weapons Dalek? Or precursor, seeing as this came first and Who ripped off the idea.

 

JL - These twelve episodes have flown by, which is a good sign you're enjoying something... or not paying full attention.

 

 

 

The Tripods (1984) Episode 11

The boys continue on their journey and encounter occasional dangers, such as having to cross a deep fast-moving river in which Beanpole nearly drowns. But the boys are unaware of the greatest danger of all: Daniel is still following them on horseback.

 

IB - Henry is tired of walking and walking and walking! Think how we feel!

 

JL - Will is giving us a good look at his bulge sitting with his legs that far open. It's not for nothing his friends know him as 'Tripod'.

 

JL - Henry: 'I'm getting thin!' Don't kid yourself, son.

 

JL - Will's hairy legs are a masterpiece when he gets his breeches off to cross the river.

 

IB - Beanpole manages to almost drown in a shallow stream. He's the brains, not the brawn, but surely he isn't that ineffectual?

 

IB - Daniel the Black Guard is tracking them. I expected a Tripod to peak over that hill. What an anti-climax!

 

JL - Maybe the model budget was running out by this point.

 

IB - There's a rusty, burnt out old car in the field. So post-apocalyptic.

 

JL - Beanpole's full length leather maternity coat - I can only describe it that way - is trés cool.

 

With it now being October, the boys are cold and hungry, but accept a ride from a passing horse and cart that takes them to a small village. As they approach the town the boys hear bells and fear it may be a capping ceremony with a Tripod in attendance.

 

JL - The boys look at the fruit on the cart and feel hungry. As do I. There's too much food porn in this show.

 

IB - Instead of just refusing, the boys reluctantly accept a one way lift to Jabberwocky.

 

IB - More great locations with the abbey ruins.

 

JL - 'Look at all that food!' Fucking. Stop. It.

 

JL - Ha, look at the town baron in his big hat straight out of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

 

Before being there long, their hunger overcomes the three travellers' better judgment and they are nearly caught stealing food. Although they temporarily elude the villagers who pursue them, they are seen and a large crowd chase them through the woods until they reach a spot marked with skulls. Beanpole, Will and Henry continue running not realising they have entered an area ruled by incredibly violent Vagrants. Within minutes they are caught and subjected to a strange ceremony.

IB - This entire episode revolves around looking at food. The boys steal provisions but drop most of them, except for a massive French Stick. It's almost Freudian.

 

JL - The little girl points them out and gives them away. I knew there was a reason I hated children.

 

IB  - I love the way the Baron makes sure he slams his money coffer shut when he hears there are thieves abroad.

 

JL - Someone's got their priorities right.

 

IB - Skulls on posts. that can't be good, surely?

 

JL - It's gone all Man with the Golden Gun all of a sudden.

 

IB - They find a massive wooden Tripod fashioned from branches. It's very intelligent this world-building, the Tripods have become an intrinsic part of human culture.

JL - Then our heroes - our boys! - are grabbed by some weirdos in face paint who seem very excitable. Ils n'ont pas de culotte!
 

IB - So they cap the boys with crude triangular twig caps of their own. It's very trippy.

 

JL - Will should be in his element then. There's lots of crazed laughing. This is just like a normal night round John Nathan Turner's house.

 

JL - There's another dwarf! Dwarftastic!

 

IB - They're playing catch with the grenades the boys brought with them.

 

JL - Pull the pin, you freaks!

IB - Beanpole: 'we have our wits. They do not.' Awesome Beanpole. Will jumps up and down and quotes Ozymandias. That's continuity.

 

JL - Embarrassing as it is. I died the first time this was transmitted. I was watching it with my parents. It was slow and drawn out and horrible. 
 

IB - Will's chicken impression is profound. He's got those vagrants eating birdseed out of his hand.

 

 

Despite being outnumbered the teenagers outwit their captors and manage to escape, only to fall into the hands of the villagers again, who put them on trial. If they are found guilty the judgement will be that they are capped the very next day.

 

IB - Out of the frying pan, into the fire, and back into the frying pan as a whole battalion (or so) of Black Guards await them.

 

JL - At least it put an end to the chicken impression. Will needs a punch to the frontal lobe.

 

IB - Again the baddies aren't all bad. They think the uncapped have strange thoughts, and all they want to do is cap them, they don't want any kind of retribution. 'We are civilised'.

 

JL - Too civilised.

 

IB - The humans aren't at fault, they're just puppets.

 

JL - Puppets of the Tripods! Cue credits.